More Muscovites Apply for Apartment Remodeling Permits Online via mos.ru
The city’s digital service for submitting apartment remodeling applications is seeing growing demand. Over time, it could also become a reference case for exporting municipal GovTech solutions.
In-Demand Services
Moscow’s Deputy Mayor for Housing, Utilities, and Urban Improvement, Pyotr Biryukov, said residents are actively using the electronic service on the mos.ru portal to submit applications for apartment remodeling. The service is provided exclusively in digital form, with applicants able to track application status and final decisions online.
In 2025, more than 32,000 applications were submitted. Requests for preliminary approval increased by about 11% compared with the previous period. Of the total, around 15,000 applications sought approval for planned works, roughly 8,000 were for certifying already completed work, and about 7,000 related to legalizing remodeling carried out without prior approval. More than 2,500 applications were submitted under a simplified procedure based on a sketch rather than a full project.
These figures show that electronic public services are becoming increasingly popular. That is hardly surprising: simplifying remodeling approvals makes the service more accessible and convenient for residents. Bureaucratic barriers are reduced, processing times fall significantly, and decision-making becomes more transparent and responsive. In this sense, Moscow’s local example reflects a broader trend toward the digitalization of public services, particularly in large Russian cities.
Building Trust Through Digital Services
The expansion of digital approval services is part of a wider strategy to improve the quality of administrative services delivered through mos.ru. In practice, this continues the broader shift toward moving government services online and simplifying interactions between citizens and public authorities. If implementation continues successfully, the model could serve as an interesting blueprint for developing GovTech service ecosystems not only for other Russian cities, but potentially for international adopters as well.
That said, the main growth prospects lie within Russia. In the near term, the portal’s functionality is likely to expand, with deeper integration into design and construction tools. Automated prompts and AI assistants for document preparation are also possible. Such enhancements would further strengthen public trust in digital government services.
A Smart City Strategy
For several years, Muscovites have relied on mos.ru for a wide range of administrative tasks, from consultations to formal paperwork. The number of electronic services available now runs into the hundreds. The portal’s development has progressed alongside other city digital platforms. Previously, for example, electronic services of the Moscow Bureau of Technical Inventory were cited among the city’s most in-demand online offerings.
This trajectory aligns with the broader digitalization trend. The shift toward digital public services forms part of Moscow’s smart city strategy, under which digital technologies are deployed to improve the urban environment and streamline interactions between residents and city authorities.
The Moscow Trend
The electronic service for approving apartment remodeling in Moscow continues to grow in popularity. This points both to rising digital literacy and civic engagement among residents, and to the effectiveness of the digital tools themselves.
Looking ahead, online applications are likely to increase further as the service expands its capabilities. Automation should continue to shorten review times, and new digital services related to real estate and urban management may emerge. In any case, the move toward fully digital, user-friendly public services – and higher-quality administrative delivery overall – has already become a defining trend for Moscow.
